Change and progression from one album to the next are an absolute must if a band is to remain interesting to fans and to ensure that they aren’t simply going through the motions every time they enter the studio. Sometimes the changes in direction can be for the better, but other times for the worst. But then sometimes, the change of direction and sound can be so great between albums that you can be left wondering if it’s actually the same band. And that’s exactly what German act Fear My Thoughts have left me wondering with their latest effort Isolation.

Having started out with a predominately metallic hardcore sound, the band have slowly shifted in both sound and style over the course of the four full-length releases and two EP releases to eventually settle on a melodic death metal foundation on 2007’s rather impressive Vulcanus. But that was 18 months ago when the band was fronted by vocalist Mathias Ockl. Returning with new vocalist Martin Fischer, Fear My Thoughts (who also comprise of guitarists Markus Ruf and Patrick Hagman, bassist Bartosz Wojciechowski and drummer Norman Lonhard) have radically changed direction on their fifth full-length effort Isolation.

The brief experimental title track “Isolation” doesn’t give too much away in terms of just how much has changed within the Fear My Thoughts camp, but there’s no doubt that the following track, “The Blind Walk Over The Edge” will have many wondering just where the band’s sound of old has gone.

New frontman Fischer isn’t afraid to use his clean vocals in equal measure alongside his melodic growls, which opens up possibilities previously closed in the past. And the band have certainly seized the opportunity to try something new on the musical front, with the progressive hard rock nature of “The Blind Walk Over The Edge” sounding like a complete departure from the band’s past.

The hard rock influence is pushed even further in the rather straight forward sounding “Numbered By The Beast,” “Through The Eyes Of God” and “Bound And Weakened”, while the expansive “Creeping Lord” and the closing number “Burning The Lamb/The Sacrifice” are even harder to pin down genre wise, with the band showcasing a multitude of different influences throughout.

Of course, some of the bands past sound does surface from time to time, such as in the energetic thrash based “The Hunted” and “Pitch Black.” But for the most part, Isolation is full of new ideas rather than rehashes of the past.

I have always enjoyed Fear My Thoughts releases in the past, and Isolation is no exception. Sure, the direction taken by the band threw me off initially, but after the shock wore off, I found myself really getting into the album in a major way. I can see a lot of fans abandoning the band over their move away from their melodic death metal sound of old, but really it’s their loss. Isolation is very different, but also something quite daring for the band, but a change that definitely works for me.

www.myspace.com/fearmythoughts